Public Attitudes to An Garda Síochána

Department/Agency

An Garda Siochana

Key information

The statistics on public attitudes cover the following areas: overall satisfaction with Garda service; experience of crime; contact with the Gardaí; emergency Garda response; Garda approachability; unacceptable behaviour by Garda members; racist incidents; Garda visibility and activity; road traffic collisions; policing priorities; further views on the Garda Síochána; public safety and fear of crime; views on crime and the criminal justice system; Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert. Some information is classified by Garda division, age, housing tenure, area or social class.

Links

Contact

Source

The Garda Public Attitudes Survey commissioned by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána.

Scope

All persons 18 years and over. The sampling methodology is biased towards the settled community and is likely to under-represent members of the travelling community and certain other hard-to-reach groups such as non-English-speaking immigrants.

Crimes
Burglary of home or outbuildings; Burglary of business premises owned by respondent; Theft of vehicle; Theft from vehicle; Theft of bicycle; Criminal damage to car or other vehicle; Criminal damage to home or other property; Robbery involving force or threat (including mugging); Theft from person without force (eg, pickpocket); Theft from home or outbuildings (other than burglary); Consumer fraud (eg, swindling or false pretences); Physical assault (other than sexual or domestic); Sexual assault; Domestic violence (physical); Other.

Reason for not reporting crimeNot serious enough/no loss; No chance of recovering property; No insurance claim anticipated; Believed Gardaí could not have done anything; Believed Gardaí would not have been interested; Felt the Gardaí would not believe you; No involvement wanted with the Gardaí; Fear of reprisal; Did not have time; Other.

Garda contact (type)Respondent-initiated (To report a crime; To report a disturbance/nuisance; To report a traffic accident; To report a suspicious activity; To report lost/found property; To make a general inquiry; To make a complaint; To enquire about a person in custody; To be a witness; Signing passports; To avail of other services); Garda-initiated (To produce documents; To ask about a crime; To investigate a traffic collision; To investigate noise/disturbance; To carry out a routine vehicle check; To take a witness statement; Alleged speeding offence; Alleged drink driving offence; Alleged other driving/traffic offence; Arrested, detained for questioning or searched; To receive summons).

Garda contact (form)
Visit to Garda station; Telephone call to the Gardaí (excluding 999/112 calls); Telephone call from the Gardaí; Letter from the Gardaí; Electronic means (email etc); Spoke to Garda on patrol; Spoke to Garda at checkpoint/vehicle stop; Garda called to home or work; Other.